What is Reiki?
"It was once explained to me that reiki was like all the colours of the rainbow"...
...When a person experiences a reiki treatment their own higher self is able to pick out which colour that person may need at that time. I feel that this is the perfect way to describe reiki and now I too use it as a description to explain the simplicity of reiki. Traditionally reiki (pronounced ray - key) is a Japaneses hands on healing method developed by Usui Mikao. Reiki works throughout the body balancing the energy centres that lie within. It is said that in order to balance the body we need to balance the mind.
Situations occur in our every day lives which can manifest into physical, emotional and mental symptoms. Reiki flushes out this negative energy and replaces it with the pure reiki energy with which we are all made up of. I liken it to having a boost to refresh your system, like standing under a waterfall and allowing the water to wash away your fears. Reiki can be used to aid our body in recovery. Reiki is in no way an alternative therapy but a complementary therapy. Working alongside medicine to enhance its benefits. Reiki is promoted as a relaxation therapy to help reduce stress, tension and can also help with pain management. Each person is different and each treatment is different. It is an energy system which if practiced consistently enables you to develop yourself spiritually and brings about a sense of peace with oneself that is truly blissful. During a reiki treatment it is your own body which draws on the energy. Much like when a child is comforted by a mother it is a natural human response to respond to touch. When we comfort someone through touch it is our energy which the person draws upon for comfort and healing. Reiki is drawn upon by the recipient and is then distributed throughout the body where ever it is needs at that time.
A brief account of Reiki Ryoho history.
Usui Mikao, born 15th August 1865 is the founder of the system of Reiki. He is said to have come from a samurai family who were in the higher ranks of the samurai (hatamoto). The hatamoto were the shogun's guard. Born and raised as a Buddhist he studied in a Tendai Monastery and at the age of 12 began the practise of a martial arts called Aiki Jutsu. He eventually became an instructor in Yagyu Ryu and gained the highest licence of proficiency in weaponry and grappling. Usui Mikao also became a Tendai Buddhist Monk but remained in his home and did not reside in the temple. One day Usui Mikao climbed mount Kurama where he began to do penance while fasting. On the twenty first day from the start he felt a great reiki over his head and at the same time as he was enlightened he was given the reiki cure. When he used it on his own body and the bodies of his family members he found that it brought about an immediate result. Usui Mikao had 21 teacher students and one of these students was Hayashi Chujiro (1880-1940). Apart from Usui's teachings Hayashi Chujiro practised his own branch of reiki. Hayashi is best known for teaching Hawayo Takata who is known for bringing reiki to the West. This is where most forms of reiki have branched from since. Reiki Ryoho taught by the International House of Reiki is based on Usui Mikao's original teachings and Frans and Bronwen Stein (founders of International House of Reiki) have worked closely with the teachings of Usui to keep the simplicity of reiki at the forefront of their teachings and regularly visit Japan and have links with the Gakkai to verify all reiki knowledge so we can be assured that it is first hand information.
